Laura is delighted that she can focus on career in engineering

practical work, too.

“I would recommend a Foundation Apprenticeship to anyone who has a rough idea of what career they would like to follow as it gives them real- life experience and lets them focus on following the right path to get there.”

Laura finds her college life helps her balance school work, too. Laura added: “I seem to be more focused with my work, I can manage both my school and my college work – and it works well for me.

“I thought at first I would have too much work but I think because the subjects at college are specific to engineering, it doesn’t feel like hard work at all.” Now is the crucial time when thousands of young people across Scotland have to make their subject choices at school. The choices pupils make can have an impact on what they do when they leave school and what jobs they can go for in the future – but help is at hand from Skills Development Scotland ( SDS).

Every secondary school in Scotland has an SDS careers adviser who can help pupils think about the right subject choices for them.

SDS advisers can discuss the options to suit a pupil’s career ambitions and can advise on new subject options, such as a Foundation Apprenticeship that leads to a qualification to help progress on to a job, a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship, or study at college or university.

On the run up to National subject choices in S2 and S3, pupils will have a group session with their school’s SDS adviser to support them think through the decisions they’re about to make. They’ll also have the opportunity for a one- to- one meeting with their adviser to discuss their choices – and they can bring along a parent, carer or teacher.

Outside of school, My World of Work, Scotland’s online careers service, has lots of help and advice around subject choices too, including a subject choices tool which gives ideas for careers your subjects could lead to.

Visit myworldofwork. co. uk/ subjectchoices for more information including tips for your child on how to prepare.